Parliamentary, Presidential and Semi-Presidential …

Parliamentary, Presidential and Semi-Presidential Democracies

Democracies are often classified according to the form of government that they have:

? Parliamentary

? Presidential

? Semi-Presidential

12: Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Democracies

Classifying Parliamentary, Presidential, and Figure12.1 Semi-Presidential Democracies

DEMOCRACIES

1. Is the government responsible to the elected legislature?

No: PRESIDENTIAL DEMOCRACIES

Yes: 2. Is the head of state popularly elected for a fixed term in office?

Yes: SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL

Source: Cheibub, Gandhi, and Vreeland (2010).

No: PARLIAMENTARY

the various government departments. Legislative responsibility means that a legislative majority has the constitutional power to remove the government from

Legislative responsibility refers to a situ which a legislative majority has the constitut power--a vote of no confidence--to remov

Legislative responsibility refers to a situation in which a legislative majority has the constitutional power to remove a government from office without cause.

A vote of no confidence is initiated by the legislature ? the government must resign if it fails to obtain a legislative majority.

A constructive vote of no confidence must indicate who will replace the government if the incumbent loses a vote of no confidence.

A vote of no confidence is initiated by the legislature ? the government must resign if it fails to obtain a legislative majority.

A constructive vote of no confidence must indicate who will replace the government if the incumbent loses a vote of no confidence.

A vote of confidence is initiated by the government ? the government must resign if it fails to obtain a legislative majority.

The defining feature of presidential democracies is that they do not have legislative responsibility.

? US Government Shutdown, click here

In contrast, parliamentary and semi-presidential democracies both have legislative responsibility.

? PM Question Time (UK), click here

In addition to legislative responsibility, semi-presidential democracies also have a head of state who is popularly elected for a fixed term.

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